Interview: Daniel Sotomayor AKA D4N13L

Today I present an interview with another extremely talented designer, Daniel Sotomayor AKA D4N13L, from Cochabamba, Bolivia. You may already be familiar with his work, featuring designs inspired by pop culture, television, movies and video games. If not, I’m sure you’ll be glad you came across this interview, with a sampling of his killer work that has been a hit on Red Bubble and a number of daily tee sites. Without further ado, here’s my interview with Daniel Sotomayor.

How would you introduce yourself and your art to people who may not familiar with you?

The name is Daniel Sotomayor, I go by the name D4N13L on the interwebz and I’m a graphic designer. I make awesome tees.

How did you get started designing t-shirts?

Ever since I can remember I’ve had a fascination with tshirts as a canvas and a way of expressing art. About 6 or 7 years ago I got introduced to Threadless and I thought I could do some funny art and get noticed and yes, money was a major plus so I got into it and about a year later I got my first print at Design By Hümans.

What inspires your work?

Everything, I try to get inspiration from every single thing that happens in my life. However, I really dig doing pop culture/geek/nerd designs because I love seeing people wearing my stuff.

Can you give us any insight into your creative process?

What is this “creative process” you speak of? LOL, well it actually starts with an idea. then I always google for it and see it someone has already done anything like it before. If it’s free to go, I do some sketching (trying to do more of that) and then I vectorize and color the thing. Next stop: sharing with fellow artists/friends and get some feedback on my FB page, after the final details I submit to varous tee-a-day sites and to my RedBubble store.

Which is your favorite design of your own?

Every design I do is my favorite! But yeah, Cloned To Kill would be one of my very faves of all time. I just finished watching Full Metal Jacket for the fifth time and then I saw “Revenge of the Sith” (yes, I know, I’m sorry too) and when Order 66 is getting issued there’s a scene where there are some Clone Troopers in camoflaged armor, it just clicked and imagined the whole thing in my head. It came out pretty well, sold a whole bunch of those tees on Teefury and ShirtPunch.

Which has been your most successful design to-date?

“It also travels in time” it’s a type design of the TARDIS with a quote from the Ninth Doctor. My best seller, ever.